Power Options

[xer0s]

I'm trying to come up with the best power option for my arcade...

First off, I am running a laptop and a TV for my arcade.  What I want is to be able to flip a single switch (perhaps on a surge protector) and have the laptop and the TV to both power up. 

Right now, I have the laptop set to go into Hybrid Sleep mode after 10 minutes and I just turn the TV off with the remote.  But I'm not sure if it's a good idea to leave a laptop in sleep mode for possibly months at a time. 

What do y'all think?

[ark_ader]

Usually you would get a smart strip, but I am unsure it would work with a laptop brick.

Sleep is not a good option as most on board devices (lan, USB and sometimes video has a tendency to not work properly), and you might want to invoke a hard drive power down and if your laptop supports it, wake from LAN.  I know my ASUS FCS3 with the IBM chipset dies when it hibernates and nothing seems to work properly unless you reboot.

I like cheap android phones and tablets - the crap ones with low memory and processor speeds, as they work as great interfaces to PCs.  You can remote connect the PC and Projector via this method.  You might want to do some research on this.

Other than that you could look at wireless power sockets.  I noticed a generic at Wallymart and they have the same at ASDA depending on your geographic location.  They work well.  Not cheap but, it never is in this hobby.

[xer0s]

Interesting options.  I'll look into it...

I want to be able to turn the laptop off when I'm not using the arcade.  But I have to take the control panel off to get to the computer and turn it back on.  So I'm just looking for a solution.  Luckily the TV will come back on automatically if I unplug it and plug it back in.  If only the laptop would do the same...

[ark_ader]

Interesting options.  I'll look into it...

I want to be able to turn the laptop off when I'm not using the arcade.  But I have to take the control panel off to get to the computer and turn it back on.  So I'm just looking for a solution.  Luckily the TV will come back on automatically if I unplug it and plug it back in.  If only the laptop would do the same...

I picked up a PC + monitor + speakers for $20 at a garage sale.  Look on craigslist you might be able to pick up a cheap 775 box to play your games on.  Failing that, a nice ITX fits good too.   Laptops are nice only if you view them on their screens and not externals.